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FTSE 250 movers: Kazakhmys soars on plans to separate assets

Mining group Kazakhmys saw its share price rocket today after the group said it was considering separating the Zhezkazgan and Central regions, with a view to a potential disposal. The group's former Chairman, Vladimir Kim, has indicated he would consider creating a personally-owned vehicle to hold the assets, the company revealed. The news came as the group swung to a loss for the 2013 full-year, as revenues declined and operating costs increased in what the group described as a period of "significant change".

Hedge fund manager Man Group was a strong riser after revealing its annual adjusted pre-tax profit lifted 8% to $297m as net outflows dropped 51% to $3.6bn, with fourth quarter net inflows of $700m. The group said it was on track to save a total of $270m by the end of 2015 and proposed a final dividend of 5.3 cents per share, making the total dividend for the year 7.9 cents. It also plans to buy back $115m of shares.

Full-year pre-tax profits at engineer Bodycote rose 9% to £98.4m, assisted by acquisitions made in 2012, pushing the stock firmly into positive territory. Revenues were up 5% to £619.6m, although the company admitted that this had been helped by a positive contribution from foreign exchange rates worth £14m and a further £32.4m from the acquisitions.

RPS Group was in positive territory after it reported a 'robust' performance in 2013, prompting a 15% increase in the dividend for investors in the oil and gas consultancy. The company also gave an upbeat outlook for the year ahead, saying it was well-positioned in markets of importance to the global economy.

Barratt Developments was also a strong riser after announcing it had completed the highest level of home deals in five years as it posted a 73% rise in operating profit to £139.5m. The house-builder said completions in the six months to December 31st rose 19% to 6,195 while revenue lifted 33% to £1.3bn.

Meanwhile, International Personal Finances shares were retreating from yesterday's strong gains, which saw it jump after its profit came in slightly ahead of expectations. Profit before tax leapt 24%, prompting a 20% increase to the dividend.

National Express was in the red after posting a fall in full-year profits, which it blamed on the loss of a UK rail franchise. The bus and train company said group normalised pre-tax profit in the year to December 31st fell 12.4% to £143.7m as it handed back the National Express East Anglia franchise in 2012.

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